Music-leaf turner



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MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

No. 561,778. Patented June 9, 1896 Wci (asses 0 RVs 7:157? yzm 6y 71 %9mw6 I fliiflmegg AN DREW BGRAHAM. PumommwAsmu 610M, 0 C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \V. FARMER, OF MOORESVILLE, INDIANA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,778, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed August 22, 1895. Serial No. 560,146. (No model.)

To CLZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. FARMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mooresville, in the county of Morgan and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music Leaf Turners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus of the portable class used in connection with music reading; and it consists of a convenient form for holding and turning the music sheets or leaves, which maybe used either by vocalists or upon musical instruments or stands.

Ileretofore when music-sheets have been placed upon a stand or instrument or even held by the hands of a person it has been difficult to with certainty prevent the leaves from turning over prematurely, and when turned purposely while rendering the music the leaves frequently refuse to lie flat or may return to the former position. At othertimes when it is designed to turn one leaf two or more may be inadvertently turned, thus causin g the singer or performer to be interrupted and diseoncerted. Various arrangements have been tried to overcome these objections with only partial success, their disadvantages, owing to faulty or expensive constructions, being nearly equal to the objections they were designed to obviate.

The object of my invention is to overcome these adverse elements and provide a desirable 1n cans whereby music-sheets may be conveniently held and turned positively at will. \Vith this object in view I have invented and made a device that will fully obviate the difficulties attending the reading and rendering of music. I have aimed to make it of few parts, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, and an examination of same will make it understood that slight variation in the details of construction may be made without departing from the intents and purpose of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a ratchet lock for clamp-lever; Fig. 3, a bottom plan. Fig. i is a transverse sectional view through center, and Fig. 5 is the same view with holder-base folded.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the views.

The base A A is made of wood or other suitable material, either in one piece or arranged to fold, as shown, and constitutes the founda tion. To this is attached the guides F F and to them the ears J J, having a base and supplemental ears, to which are hinged the leaf-turners H, of any desired number. Said arm-like turners are made of suitable wire, and each pair of connected arms is provided with a suitable finger-hold L. Convenient springs G are provided, preferably attached at g, for holding the turners and music-sheets close to the base, but are sufficiently elastic to permit of the arms being thrown to either side of the pivotal centers g, as from the side A to the opposite side A. At the center of the base a clamp G is provided for securing the music book or sheets to the base. Said clamp may be adjusted to any convenient number of sheets or books of various thickness, and is adj ustably attached to the base by suitable pins, as 0, moving in slots in the base. Any convenient arrangement may be employed for lockin g clamp O in position; but I prefer that shown, in which the clamp is actuated by the eccentric and lever D, the handle end of the latter passing through a guide E, and is held in tension by its elasticity against ratchet-teeth e.

In practical use the apparatus may rest upon a piano, organ, or on a music-stand. The back of book or edges of sheet-music is inserted in the opening 13 in the base for that purpose and clamped by the pressure of clamp G. The connecting-bars of the turner-arms II are then placed between the desired leaves and distributed, so that each leaf will have on each side of it a bar, thus placing such leaf under perfect control, and it may be turned with precision forward and backward through the half-arc of a eireleat will by means of the arms H. The music may be instantly removed by releasing the tension of the clamp 0.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a music-leaf h1l1I16l,l12tVll1g'& base and means for clamping or securing music thereto; the combination of the guides F, the ears J having a base and supplemental cars pivotally hinged to said guides; the turning-arms H having the finger-holds L hinged to said ears, and the springs G attached to said arms at one end, While the opposite end is attached at g to provide a tension to said turning-arms, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described music-leaf turner comprising the base A, A, having the aperture B, the clamp C slidably attached to under side of said base and having a. lip turned over at right angles into said aperture, said clamp being actuated by an eccentric; the guides F attached to said base; the ears J connecting said guides; the turning-arms H having the finger-holds L and hinged to pivotal pins between said ears and lugs formed of the turned-up edge of the base of said ears; the springs G having one end attached to a turning-arm and opposite end attached at g, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. W. FARMER. Witnesses:

J. G. KENNEDY, JOHN FARMER. 

